Shoe lasting machines

ABSTRACT

A shoe lasting machine having nozzles for applying adhesive progressively to the margin of a shoe bottom, in which the nozzles are moved heightwise to engage the shoe bottom and widthwise to engage a guide of the nozzle with the edge of the shoe bottom, movement of sensor fingers associated with each nozzle being effective to control the movements of the nozzles and a shoe support to cause the nozzles to follow the marginal contour of the shoe bottom to apply adhesive progressively thereto.

United States Patent Bramley et al.

[ Oct. 28, 1975 SHOE LASTING MACHINES [75] Inventors: Frank Bramley; Frank R. Smith;

Kenneth C. J. Webster, all of Leicester, England [73] Assignee: USM Corporation, Boston, Mass.

[22] Filed: Sept. 26, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 509,541

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 4, 1973 United Kingdom 46515/73 [52] US. Cl. 118/8; 118/411 [51] Int. Cl. B05C 11/00; BOSC 3/02 [58] Field of Search 118/7, 8, 41 C, 411

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,014,472 9/1935 French 118/8 X 2,294,472 9/1942 MacKenzie 118/8 X Hannable et al 118/410 Fino 118/410 X Primary Examiner-Mervin Stein Assistant Examiner-Steven Hawkins Attorney, Agent, or FirmVincent A. White; Richard B. Megley [5 7] AB STRA CT 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,915,115

i ,1 Eli SHOE LASTING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are various forms of adhesive applying devices suitable for use in shoe lasting machines including nozzles which are adapted, on lengthwise relative movement between a support for a shoe assembly and the nozzles, to apply adhesive along marginal portions of the shoe bottom. Such nozzles may be displaced widthwise to follow the widthwise curvature of the side portions of the shoe bottom as determined by engagement of the nozzles either with upstanding marginal portions of the upper, or with the marginal edge of an insole, or controlled by appropriately shaped templates.

One problem concerned with nozzles being guided by an upstanding upper margin is that the upper margin must be adequately supported against the outward forces applied by the nozzles. Such support often requires undue complexity of machine design and timing, is not particularly suited for progressive lasting, and requires a relatively long open time before the applied adhesive sets. A problem concerned with the use of templates is the requirement for selection and/or adjustment required for varying sizes and stypes of shoes being lasted. Another problem concerned with guiding the nozzles by engagement with the marginal edge of an insole is that the nozzle members must be brought into correct operating locations automatically without the need for adjustment and without operator intervention. Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to overcome the above problems with a relatively simple nozzle mounting means which is self adjusting for a wide variety of shoe sizes and styles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides, in accordance with one of its several features means for applying adhesive to the shoe bottom prior to the operation of lasting instrumentalities, wherein a pair of nozzles and shoe supporting means are moved relatively lengthwise of a shoe to apply adhesive along marginal portions of the shoe bottom. The nozzles are displaced widthwise during said relative movement in accordance with the width of successive portions of the shoe bottoms as determined by engagement of guide portions of the nozzles with opposite edge portions of the shoe bottom. The nozzles are initially caused to occupy inoperative positions spaced away from the shoe bottoms, means being provided for bringing about movement of the nozzles heightwise toward the shoe bottoms adjacent to the center line of the shoe until the nozzles engage the shoe bottoms. Means are provided for then moving the nozzles widthwise outwardly away from each other until guide portions of the nozzles reach the opposite sides of the shoe bottom and move heightwise to engage opposite edge portions of the insole. The nozzle members are then yieldably urged inwardly toward each other to maintain engagement between the guide portions of the nozzles and said opposite edge portions of the insole during the relative lengthwise movement between the nozzles and the shoe support.

According to a further feature, there is associated with each nozzle member a sensing device which is arranged, on contact with the insole during heightwise movement of the nozzles to operatea valve device associated with a piston and cylinder arrangement for moving the nozzles apart until guide portions of the nozzles drop over the opposite edge portions of the insole. The sensing device is thereby further actuated to reverse the supply of air under pressure to said piston and cylinder arrangement to yieldably urge the guide portions of the nozzle members into engagement with said opposite edge portions of the insole.

There will now be given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a more detailed description of an illustrative machine, particularly in respect of its adhesive applying mechanism. It is, however, to be clearly understood that the illustrative machine and applying mechanism are selected for description merely by way of exemplification of the invention and not by way of limitation thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing one of a pair of nozzles, and of supporting means therefor, with which the illustrative machine is provided;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation taken in the direction of the arrow II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of parts seen in FIG. I; and,

FIG. 4 is a detail side view part of one of the nozzles showing the relationship between the operative end portion of the nozzle and the. insole during operation of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS A machine in which the invention may be embodied is illustrated in an application for US. Pat. Ser. No. 459,693, filed Apr. 10, 1974. Such a machine is adapted to simultaneously last opposite side portions of shoe uppers and typically includes shoe supporting means, length sensing means, positioning and clamping means and a pair of lasting rolls. As described in said application the shoe supporting means comprises a jack post mounted on a carriage for swinging movements lengthwise of a shoe on the support and also mounted for movement heightwise of the shoe. The carriage is also movable lengthwise of the shoe and relatively to lasting means and to adhesive apply means. The machine may be provided with means for moving the jack post from a loading position to an operative position in which the bottom of a shoe, on the post is located against a holddown member 12 mounted on the carriage.

The adhesive applying means embodying the present invention comprises a pair of nozzles 20 each for operating at opposite sides of the shoe and extending down from nozzle carriers 22. The nozzle carriers 22 are pivoted at their upper ends on studs 24 extending from end portions of supporting arms 26. The nozzle supporting arms 26 are substantially L-shaped and, as seen in F IG. 1, are pivoted for swinging movements about a cross shaft 28 carried by frame portions of the machine. Pivotal movement of the arms 26 about the shaft 28 allows the nozzles 20 to rise and fall heightwise with respect to the general plane of the bottom of a shoe carried by the shoe support while pivotal movement of the nozzle carriers 22 about the axes of the studs 24 permits the nozzles to move widthwise with respect to the shoe bottom. Because of the remoteness of the nozzles from the axis of the cross shaft 28 the rising and falling movements of the outlet end portions of the nozzles take place in generally linear heightwise paths. Similarly because of the length of the nozzles 22, pivotal movement about the studs 24, also provides for generally linear widthwise movements of the outlet end portions of the nozzles. The arrangement just described also enables the nozzles to be suspended above the show being operated upon and moved between the retracted, inoperative positions and operative positions without interferring with other operative portions of the machine.

For imparting rising and falling movements of the nozzle members, and for largely counterbalancing the weight of the nozzle members and associated parts while the nozzle members are operating to apply adhesive along the marginal portions of the insole, each nozzle supporting arm 26 is acted upon by a piston and cylinder arrangement 30. Each piston and cylinder arrangement (one for each arm 26) comprises a cylinder 32, supported by a frame portion 34 of the machine, and for which extends a piston rod 38. A rearward end of the piston rod bears against a hardened plate 40 on the associated supporting arm 26. For imparting movements to the nozzles widthwise of the shoe assembly each supporting arm 26 has an upstanding pin 50 (FIG. 3) on which is pivotally mounted one end of a piston and cylinder arrangement 52, the other end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 62 to one arm 64 of a cell crank level, a second arm 66 which extends forwardly. The bell crank levers are pivoted on studs 68 upstanding from the arms 26.

Each of the nozzle carriers 22 has a pin 70 upstanding from a boss 72 and coupled, with the forwardly extending arm 66 of the associated bell crank lever by a connecting pin 78 slidable in the arm 66 and a bracket 80. When air under pressure is admitted to rearward end portions of the cylinders 54 the piston rods 58 are moved forwardly to swing the bell crank levers 64, 66 in directions to swing the nozzle carrier 22, in such directions as to move the outlet end portions of the nozzles outwardly away from each other. Similarly, air pressure applied to the opposite ends of the cylinders 54 will urge the nozzle members toward each other. Air under pressure applied to the forward end portions of the cylinders 32 will urge the nozzle supporting arms 26 clockwise about the cross shaft 28 (as seen in FIG. 1) to rise the nozzles from their operative positions to inoperative positions. When it is desired to move the nozzles to operative positions the air pressure acting in the cylinders 32 is reduced sufficiently to allow the weight of the parts to swing the nozzle supporting arms 26 in a counterclockwise direction about the cross shaft 28. The pressure of air admitted to the cylinders 32 under this condition will be sufficient to counterbalance the greater part of the weight of the nozzles and the associated parts so that the outer ends of the nozzles bear with little pressure against the insole.

Each nozzle 20 is generally tubular in form, an upper end of the nozzle being fixed in a nozzle block 82 and a lower end being provided with an insole engaging surface 106 and a guide portion 86 depending at an outer side of the surface 106. Each nozzle block 82 is supported, by a pair of rods 88 extending from a block 90 of heat insulating material secured, by screws 91, to a depending portion 92 of the associated nozzle carrier 22. Each nozzle block provides a melting device 94 through which extends a spirally disposed passageway 95 leading from an inlet connection 96 to a passageway 93 through the nozzle block to the nozzle. The melting device 94 is provided with an electrically heated cartridge 97, for maintaining the melting device at such a temperature that adhesive in the form of rod fed by any convenient means into the inlet connection may be melted and, as further solid rod is fed into the inlet connection, molten adhesive is expelled through an outlet opening 98 provided in the nozzle member. It should be understood, however, that liquid adhesives other than the thermoplastic type may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. To avoid drooling of adhesive from the nozzles between successive cycles of operation of the machine there is provided, for each nozzle, a needle valve 100 which extends through a bore in the associated nozzle block 82 to seat against a seat 101 (FIG. 4) in the nozzle at a locality close to the outlet opening 98. Each needle valve 100 is connected with a plunger of a piston and cylinder device 104 which acts to retract the needle valve 100 from its seat 101 when it is desired to apply adhesive to the insole. Associated with each nozzle is a sensor 1 10 which comprises an L-shaped finger which is mounted in one arm 1 12 of a two armed lever pivoted on a pin 116 on the portion 92 of the carrier 22 and having a second arm 114. An operative end of the sensor is located close to the lower end of the associated nozzle as best seen in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the arms 114 extend outwardly toward the opposite sides of the machine, and are connected through a pin 120 and rod 122 to a member 124 of a valve 126 secured to the associated nozzle carrier 22.

During a cycle of operations of the illustrative machine, a shoe assembly comprising an upper X and insole I mounted on a last L is placed upon the jack post with a last pin 8 engaged in the usual thimble hole of the last on which the shoe assembly is mounted while the jack post is in its loading position. The jack post is then swung heelwardly and raised to position the heel seat portion of the insole against the holddown member 12 by means fully disclosed in said application. The shoe assembly may also be automatically located in the desired position relatively to the nozzles 20 and to the lasting rolls for these instrumentalities to commence their operation upon the shoe assembly. At this time the nozzles 20 are in their raised inoperative positions as determined by air pressure applied in the cylinder 32. The nozzles also are held in their innermost positions as a result of air under pressure being applied to the front end portions of the cylinders 54. At this time a signal is developed in the control circuit of the machine which brings about a reduction in the pressure of air supplied to the cylinders 32 to allow the nozzle supporting arms 26 to swing down until the guides 86 of the nozzles rest on the insole. As described above, the air pressure admitted to the cylinders 32 is sufficient to counterbalance the major portion of the weight of the nozzles and their associated parts so that the nozzles 20 rest with light pressure upon the insole.

When the nozzles are approaching the insole the sensors extend below the feeler portions 86 of the nozzles (see the relative positions of the sensor 110 and the left-hand nozzle 20 as indicated in FIG. 2, this nozzle member being shown in its initial rest position). As the nozzle moves towards the insole the associated sensor 110 engages the insole and is raised relatively to the nozzle until the guide 86 contacts the insole. This movement of the sensor 110 actuates the valve 126 which causes the air supply to the associated cylinder 54 to be reversed so that the nozzle member is moved outwardly toward the edge of the insole. As the guide 86 of the nozzle reaches the edge of the insole the nozzle drops until the surface 106 of the nozzle engages the insole. This results in a further relative upward movement of the associated sensor 110 to move the valve member 124 further in its downward direction in the valve 126 and causes a further reversal in the supply of air to the associated cylinder 54 once again to urge the associated nozzle member inwardly with respect to the insole whereby the guide 86 is urged against the edge face of the insole. The initial movement of the sensors 110 also initiates the feeding action of the adhesive feeding means and simultaneously causes the piston and cylinder devices 104 to open the needle valves 100. This initiates the flow of adhesive through the outlet openings 98 of the nozzle members as they move outwardly to their operative positions. The initial movement of the sensors 110 also initiates movement of the carriage supporting the jack and thereby initiates lengthwise relative movement between the shoe and the nozzles to cause the nozzles to apply adhesive along the marginal portions of the insole. It will be understood that, during this movement, the air pressure applied in the cylinders 54 yieldably holds the guides 86 of the nozzles 20 in engagement with the opposite side faces of the insole so that the nozzles follow the outline of the side portions of the insole.

Movement of the carriage supporting the jack also may initiate the action of the lasting rolls which, as described in said application, act to wipe marginal portions of the upper along opposite side portions of the shoe assembly inwardly over the insole for securement thereto by the adhesive applied by the nozzles in advance of the operation of the lasting rolls. The adhesive applying operation may be terminated by any well known manner such as a signal derived from the carriage reaching a predetermined position. This signal results in the upward withdrawal of the nozzles by an increase in pressure supplied to the cylinders 32 and the air pressure acting in the cylinders 54 swings the nozzles inwardly to their initial positions. Removal of the nozzles heightwise away from the insole allows the sensors 110 to return to initial position relative to the nozzles to terminate the feeding of adhesive to the nozzles and the closing of the needle valves 100. The lasting rolls may also be automatically raised at the end of the lasting operation and the shoe supporting jack swung to its initial loading position as fully described in said application.

The outlet openings 98 of the nozzle members are directed toward the front of the machine, so that they are trailing in the sense of the direction of movement of the shoe assembly past the nozzles, the shoe assembly moving in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 4, the toe end of the shoe points in the direction of movement and the forepart of the bottom of the last is often inclined (to an extent depending on the style of shoe and heel height) to the horizontal. The insole engaging surface 106 of the nozzles is therefore also inclined to the horizontal at a considerable angle so as to enable the nozzles to seat on forepart portions of the insoles of various styles of shoe assembly and maintain the outlet openings of the nozzles in close proximity to the insoles. This inclination of the insole engaging surfaces 106 also tends to ensure that when the nozzles, during their outward movement, reach the opposite edge portions of the insole, the feeler portions 86 drop over the opposite edges of the insole and may be moved into contact therewith. In FIG. 4 there is also shown in chain dotted lines the positions which a nozzle occupies with respect to the insole at progressively later stages in the movement of the shoe past the nozzle.

It should be apparent that various substitutions of mechanisms and combination of parts may be made from those described in the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims:

We claim:

1. ln a machine for lasting shoes in which a shoe support and lasting means are moved relatively lengthwise of a shoe on the support, the improvement comprising means for applying adhesive progressively to the margin of the shoe bottom including at least one nozzle through which adhesive is extruded, said nozzle having a shoe bottom engaging portion. having a heightwise extending guide, means for moving the nozzle heightwise from a retracted position to a position in which the guide engages the shoe bottom at a locality spaced inwardly from the margin of the shoe bottom, means thereafter effective for moving the nozzle widthwise outwardly until the guide moves beyond engagement with the shoe bottom and said nozzle portion moves against the shoe bottom by further heightwise movement of the nozzle, means responsive to said further movement for causing the widthwise moving means to reverse its action so the guide is urged yieldingly against said margin, and means effective to initiate said lengthwise relative movement to cause the nozzle to apply adhesive progressively along the margin of the shoe bottom for securing the shoe upper margin to the shoe bottom.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which nozzles are provided for simultaneous operation at opposite sides of a shoe bottom.

3. A machine according to claim 1 in which a sensor finger is arranged inwardly adjacent to said nozzle to engage the shoe bottom before the nozzle guide and be moved relatively heightwise until the guide engages the shoe bottom, the finger movement being effective to operate means for controlling operation of the widthwise moving means.

4. A machine according to claim 3 in which the further heightwise movement of the nozzle also causes further movement of the finger to further operate the controlling means to cause reversal of the widthwise moving means for yieldingly urging the guide against the shoe bottom margin. 

1. In a machine for lasting shoes in which a shoe support and lasting means are moved relatively lengthwise of a shoe on the support, the improvement comprising means for applying adhesive progressively to the margin of the shoe bottom including at least one nozzle through which adhesive is extruded, said nozzle having a shoe bottom engaging portion having a heightwise extending guide, means for moving the nozzle heightwise from a retracted position to a position in which the guide engages the shoe bottom at a locality spaced inwardly from the margin of the shoe bottom, means thereafter effective for moving the nozzle widthwise outwardly until the guide moves beyond engagement with the shoe bottom and said nozzle portion moves against the shoe bottom by further heightwise movement of the nozzle, means responsive to said further movement for causing the widthwise moving means to reverse its action so the guide is urged yieldingly against said margin, and means effective to initiate said lengthwise relative movement to cause the nozzle to apply adhesive progressively along the margin of the shoe bottom for securing the shoe upper margin to the shoe bottom.
 2. A machine according to claim 1 in which nozzles are provided for simultaneous operation at opposite sides of a shoe bottom.
 3. A machine according to claim 1 in which a sensor finger is arranged inwardly adjacent to said nozzle to engage the shoe bottom before the nozzle guide and be moved relatively heightwise until the guide engages the shoe bottom, the finger movement being effective to operate means for controlling operation of the widthwise moving means.
 4. A machine according to claim 3 in which the further heightwise movement of the nozzle also causes further movement of the finger to further operate the controlling means to cause reversal of the widthwise moving means for yieldingly urging the guide against the shoe bottom margin. 